Intelligent CXO Issue 18 | Page 52

INTELLIGENT SECTION

FINANCE SALES & MARKETING HR SOLUTIONS EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Buddy systems improve hire experience

McLean & Company , a globally trusted partner of HR and business leaders , has released its newest researchdriven resource , titled Implement a Buddy System at Work . This data-backed guide is intended to support HR leaders in building a more consistent and effective way to help onboard new employees . With HR facing ongoing challenges like significant turnover and competition in the talent marketplace , a ‘ buddy system ’ is an easy-to-implement solution that is effective at helping new employees acclimate to a new organisation and role .

Onboarding is often exciting and stressful for both the new employee and the manager , and new hires often need extra support to settle into a new role . McLean & Company ' s New Hire Survey Database shows employees are 1.8 times more likely to be engaged when their acclimatisation experience is positive compared to those who rate their experience lower .
A buddy is different from a mentor or coach . The term ‘ buddy ’ refers to the internal tenured employee who assists a new employee in settling in with an organisation . The buddy acts as a friendly point of contact to help new employees adjust to their roles during the first few months by providing advice , answering questions and making introductions .
The research indicates that a buddy system provides ongoing support to new hires after their initial orientation without a significant investment in time or resourcing and can alleviate some of HR ' s pain points with similar programmes .
Buddy system programmes offer the following merits :
• Easy to implement with minimal coordination
• Senior-level members freed up for more formal interactions
• No specialised training required to be a buddy
• Flexibility in meeting frequency , duration and location
For employees , buddy systems are valuable and offer such benefits as :
• An enhanced and more personalised onboarding experience
• Prevention of potential isolation when hired ad hoc rather than in large groups
• Help with the adjustment period as new employees become familiar with team processes and organisational culture
• Networking opportunities and identification of key contacts within the organisation
• Improved distribution of the time managers traditionally spends on onboarding
McLean & Company explains that although the implementation of the buddy system and the buddy selection process fall under a manager ' s list of responsibilities , HR can impact uptake and effectiveness by designing the framework and guiding managers on how to integrate it into their onboarding processes .
This framework will ensure that a consistent approach is being applied throughout the organisation and that all new employees have access to an additional layer of onboarding support . x
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